Scenes of a Crime

Full Frame Grand Jury Award 2011

NEW DOCS

In 2008, Adrian Thomas spent more than ten hours at the Troy, NY, Police Department being interrogated by officers convinced he’d killed his four-month-old son. In spite of his repeated pleas of innocence, officers followed interrogation protocol and hammered away at him until he finally signed a confession. Not until later did crucial information emerge that cast serious doubt on the outcome of the interrogation. Medical experts, police, and lawyers offer their opinions in this criminal exposé, but it’s the videotaped interrogation that’s the focal point of the film. Filmmakers use the tape, along with access to all parties, to expose deeper layers of the story, challenging the veracity of the confession, and others like it. Even still, a mystery lingers, and it’s unclear how the tape’s existence will ultimately impact the outcome. When Thomas’s case finally makes it to trial, the jury weighs in and determines his future.  RYS

Directors

Grover Babcock, Blue Hadaegh

Producers

Grover Babcock, Blue Hadaegh

Editor

Robert DeMaio

Cinematographers

David Elkins, Brian Mulchy

Release Year

2011

Festival Year

2011

Country

United States

Run Time

86 minutes

Premiere

World Premiere